As I grow older and think of times past in my life, I realize how quickly life passes and the old adage of "with age comes wisdom" has so much more meaning, with every year. 

This year marks the passing of a great man, my Godfather, Lionel Giguere.  At almost 100 years old, he lived a vibrant, fruitful life, filled with love.  He was a man of God and family.  He once told me not to take everyday things so seriously.  He knew how to live, and live he did. 
He holds a special place in my heart.

They say, "good neighbors are hard to find" so I guess I am lucky.  Totally got the tractor stuck in the south pasture early one evening and called my neighbor Mr. James Robbins for help.  Took him a while to get there, then I found out he was in a meeting when I called him, which he left to come help me.  I barely know the man.  He showed up with his tractor but we couldn't get mine out.  He came back the next morning with a backhoe and pulled me out.  He also opened up the creek where the dang beavers had dammed up.  Most old farmers are just flat out good people, he sure is. 

It has been busy at the farm, and we have been waiting for the pastures to green.  Here in North Florida the pastures go dormant in winter unlike South Florida.  From the looks of things we will be cutting first hay in about two weeks. 

I have really enjoyed the farm recently as my son Joe has become a big part of it.  It is great spending time with him and enjoying the same thing.  He is quite the cattleman and the calves just love him.  We attended a reproduction class in Marianna where we did some hands on blood drawing with Dr. Cliff Lamb and spent time with Dr. Ann Blount in the forage test sites.  I think we make a pretty good team. 

We had to tend a down cow, a milk cow that had been given to me, and Joe was right there, day in and day out, hauling water and hay, meeting with the vet, and finding a hip lift.  It didn't end well, but the school of hard knocks gave us quite the education.

On March 8th we worked the herd and the whole family showed up to help.  Jeanine and I, Joe, Papo, Joey and Shelly, and Angela our friend, worked all day and got the job done.  Calf vaccinations, worming, tattooing, ear tagging, and castrations.  It went really well and after 55 head of cattle we were exhausted.  I can get a tad grouchy during the process, but thank goodness my help takes me with a grain of salt.  I need to heed the words of wisdom from my Godfather.   

We sold some cattle earlier in the spring.  Sumners Farms in Alabama bought 7 of our heifers including Otium's Sunday that was bred to Mocha Latte. 

We sold 2 young bulls as herd sires to two different ranchers in Mississippi.  One of them will be breeding a beefmaster herd.  They thought the South Poll genetics would work great with their herds. 

We also sold 6 yearling heifers and our #1201 bull "Otium's Uno" to a cattleman in Alabama who was starting a South Poll herd.  Uno was sired by the great South Poll bull M480 "Chïef".

The chicken population has dwindled some as we have a hawk problem and I am not quite sure which road to take on that yet.  Those bitty's sure are funny though, and we love the fresh eggs. 

Joe and I have been getting some light maintenance done on the equipment so it's ready when we need it.  North pasture and hayfield have been fertilized and we spread some crushed block down over the creek bridge road where it had washed out some. 

I usually work 7 days a week, and between the business, home maintenance, and the farm, it's hard to keep up with everything that needs to be done.  I sometimes wonder if I am on the right course in my life, but I sure enjoy spending time at the farm, and being out with the herd is very soothing to me.  I pray for good weather during the summer, it makes it alot easier on us farmers.  No drought, no floods, just right. 

As I was loading the pictures on this blog, I came across some pictures of my young kids and grandson Cash.  I can't believe how much they have grown, and especially how time has flown by, yes ...... life is fleeting..... make the best of everyday, and don't take everyday things so seriously. 

  


O LORD I PRAY TO THEE


IN MY OLD AGE, KEEP MY SIGHT, SO THAT I MAY SEE

 THE BEAUTY OF MY FARM I LOVE 

THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED ME WITH FROM ABOVE 

AND LET HEAVENS GATE BE 

A FARM GATE HOLDING CATTLE FOR ALL ETERNITY



I PRAY FROM ATOP A TRACTOR TO YOU MY LORD 

THAT YOU WILL HEAR MY EVERY WORD

 THAT THE COWS BE BLESSED WITH A CALF EACH YEAR

 AND KNOW THIS FARMERS LOVE, SO THEY WILL NOT FEAR



LET THE HAY CROP BE HIGH AND WITHOUT FLOOD OR  DROUGHT

 AND MAY MY CHILDREN SEE THE BEAUTY THAT I SEE,  WITHOUT  A   DOUBT



MAY MY WIFE FORGIVE MY ABSENCE WHILE TENDING MY  HERD

 IT'S WHILE MENDING FENCES OR FEEDING HAY THAT I HEAR YOUR  WORD



AS MY GRANDFATHER KNEW THE PEACE OF FARMING, NOW SO DO  I

 I CAN FEEL HIM AT YOUR RIGHT HAND WHEN I LOOK TO THE  SKY


  O LORD I PRAY TO THEE

 WHEN I AM HOT, LEND ME THE SHADE OF YOUR TREE

 WHEN I AM COLD AND WET, WARM AND DRY ME WITH THE  SUN

 WHEN I AM TIRED KEEP ME STRONG UNTIL THE  WORK IS DONE

 
AND THAT MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN FEEL THE WAY I DO 
 
AND LOVE THIS FARM,  AND BE DRAWN CLOSER TO  YOU


  AND WHEN MY DEATH COMES, ALL TRUTH BE TOLD

  TENDING YOUR GARDEN NEVER DID GET  OLD
 
MICHAEL RENY 
12/20/13

Well fall is here and it has been really busy.  Fall calves are being born, the temperatures are nice for working, and there is lots to be done. 
Lat month we planted winter forage in the south pasture.  I hope that it comes in better than last year.  Tried a whole new approach to planting this year.  Split the pasture with rye grass and triticale this year.  My son Joe helped with the planting.  

We moved the herd to the north hay field since there is no more haying. After all the wet weather we had this summer we only cut hay once instead of the usual three times. It was so thick and tall it was a real challenge. We put up 132 round bales which should get us through the winter with what was left from last year.  

I see the beauty in the farm that God has graced us with daily.  We are so blessed.  Sometimes in our lives we get so caught up in the busy day to day schedules we keep, we forget to stop and take in with admiration the awesomeness of God's creation.

Soon the pecans will be harvested and I am looking forward to that.  Jeanine, the kids along with Mimi and Papo usually handle the pecans. 

The chickens have been doing a great job keeping us in eggs to the tune of eleven dozen a week.  Way to go girls!  I have been feeding them pears from the pear trees and vegatable scraps as well.  I enjoy being around them, they are such busy bodies.  They come running when I am around, and it is hard to get anything done near them. 


We had a first calf heifer that calved but didn't know what to do.  I ended up penning them up together and let mother nature and God go to work.  Everything turned out OK, but I was really concerned for a while, thinking I might have to be a surrogate.

Son Joe, Grandson Cash, myself, new calf.

Well my daughter Ami has become a hunter.  Serious about bagging a trophy buck.  Took the classes, bought a compound bow and ready to bag her first one.  We hunted last weekend, it was nice to spend time together, even if there was not much talk.  
The wild hogs have been tearing up the newly planted winter forage, so I have decided to do some hog control.  I actually took down this one while bow hunting deer.

Well the summer heat is on us and until the past few days it has been really dry.  No substantial rain for over a month.  Finally rained yesterday.  We put down 59 tons of lime on 3 of the 4 fields, but no fertilizer due to no rain.  Soon enough I will be spending those long hours haying, which I am actually looking forward to.  It is somewhat theraputic for stress relief as long as there are no mechanical issues, or rain. 

Ami had two 6 foot long rat snakes come out of the horse barn one afternoon and that was a little strange.  I figure thay were a mating pair.  The beavers have not been an issue with no rain. 

We have had several more calves born.  One of them is the spitting image of Moopheus the bull.  He looks just like a minature.  12710 has had her second calf so she is a cow now.  1005 had a calf, which I am really happy about.  She is the heifer that was featured in Paleo Magazine.   The little guy was up running and bucking in just a few minutes after being born, and Jeanine and the kids were able to watch. 

Well we decided to try raising a few laying hens at the farm.  I bought 25 chicks thinking I would probably loose a few.  That didn't happen, so we ended up with 25 chickens.  I built a "super dooper chicken coop-er" for them.  It took several weekends and everyone pitched in to help.  The coop has six laying boxes that you can get to from outside the coop.  I built some really cool waterers that need no maintenance or cleaning.  It has some nice roosting boards that are removable for coop cleaning.  A gravity feeder.  And a solar powered auto door so they can go out in the morning and be safe inside at night.  Well at least from night preditors because we have lost two chickens during  the day.  Now I put up a solar powered mesh fence around the yard to keep them safe.  I am expecting lots of eggs by August.  Do ya hear that girls?   

As mother nature breathes new life onto the earth and all its treasures, we prepare the ground, and plant or sew, in anticipation of a harvest of her bounty.  The pastures are starting to green up and blooms abound.  Busy times at the farm are ahead. 
We have had quite a few more calves, four in one week.   It was a bad rainy week of course, so the little calves were soaking wet and cold.  But know they are healthy and happy now.

Yesterday we worked the herd through the chute.  We ran 36 through starting with the adults and then the calves.  Only one momma to be heifer really gave us a hard time.  It took forever to get her into the squeeze chute.  She better not make a habit of it, or I will buy a cattle prod.   As a matter of fact I think I will buy one just to have on hand.  I had much needed help from family.  Jeanine turned into super cattlewomen, and shocked me with her skills, she was jumping gates and wrangling calves like a seasoned range hand.  She was really bruised up this morning and hurting a little.  But ya know, I think she really enjoyed it.  My sister in law Shelly, who has had medical training, was indespensible helping with vaccines and setting up my tatoos, and ear tags for the calves.  All I had to do was hold my hand out, and boom, what I needed was in my hand without even asking for it.  Joey my brother in law was awesome on the head catch, as the smaller cattle are too small to use it automatically.  He moved all the cattle out after they were worked.  Angela Piette, our friend was the record keeper, she had to track the blackleg and respiratory vaccines, cattle number, sex, worming, ear tagging, ear tatooing, and castrations.  She was awesome.  Mimi looked after Ariyana, Shelly and Joey's baby and our kids so we could work uninterupted.  Papo worked the chute gate which is an overhead pull type.  That is a workout in itself.  He also helped me with the hay feeding after the chute work.   We worked over six hours straight with only a five minute water break.   The work was exhasting but very rewarding.  We should have five more calves due before mid June, then the cycle will begin again.  There is still plenty of hay left so I have to decide to either sell it or keep it in case of a drought summer.  I will wait and see what the new hay season brings.

I think that the beaver situation is under control as I have been doing some trapping.  It seems they have moved further upstream and have not been damming up at the creek bridge.  The beaver is an incredibly smart animal, and pretty tasty too.  Now there is about 5 tons of dam debris to clean up, aarrgg!  As if I didn't have enough to do.

One of Ami's horses, Shilo the gelding had a case of colic two weeks ago, so I called her and she came immediately and started working it out of him.  She is pretty darn good with her horses.  He is fine now and back to normal.  Ami just purchased her first house just 5 miles from the farm, and close to where she teaches.  I am so proud of her.  She is a great mom and an awesome daughter.  Cash my grandson has started playing T-Ball this year, 3rd base.  He is so cute.

A look ahead will be getting the pastures and hay fields ready, fence mending, adding some gates in the cattle working pens, and tractor maintenance.  We have also decided to raise some chickens this year.  Probably some Naked Neck and Golden Nugget breeds, that will give us both good egg layers and meat birds.  Now to build the chicken coop.  Well back to work!

    Last year went by so fast it scares me.  2012 was full of blessings, and I  can only give all the praise to the Lord Our God.  All the family is healthy, the children are terrific, the animals are happy, and I am thankful.  
    I seem to worry about the things going on in the world a little more lately, and being at the farm reminds me of how a simpler life can be a better life.  I am all for technology and things that make living easier, but wonder, is easier better. 
    I don't think the winter forage is going to be very good at all.  We just havn't had enough timely rain.  All that work and expense for what has germinated just wasn't worth it.  Next fall I am going to do it a little different.  It's a good thing that I baled plenty of good hay this summer.  The cows are already enjoying it, and I am feeding with three hay rings.  
    I moved the cattle into the north pasture from the north hayfield, I like it when they are close by.  We are up to 10 calves now, and expecting at least 3 more soon.  The weather has been very mild, but they are putting on their winter coats.  
    The pecan harvest was very minimal this year, so we are hoping for a big harvest next year.  The trees produce well every two years, so we were expecting it.  Some of the big pecan operations said they were only running about 30% from last years volume.  
    I finished my weed wiper that I built, all I have to do is mount it to the loader.  Hopefully it will work as I anticipate.  I organized the shop, and have most of the equipment maintenance complete.  I decided to wait till late winter to put down lime on the fields.  
    A few weeks ago I went out to check the cows and they were all laying down.  I sat down and laid back in the middle of them.  I must have dozed off for a minute in the warm sun, and was awaken by one of the cows licking me.  That was a new one for me.  
    The body condition of the cows is still good and I hope I can keep them where they are at through the winter.  The co-op came up with some all natural protein tubs for me that are made of molasses and cotton seed meal.  I have gone through 1200 lbs. and the cows just love it.  Just wish they didn't love it so much!  1200 lbs in six weeks, really.
    Moopheus the bull was sold and is now enjoying life in Missouri.  I am pretty sure that he had bred back all of the early calving mommas and the young heifers that were not bred when we brought them to the farm.  I was a little worried he might be trouble loading into the trailer, but he was awesome, and the loading chute I built worked like a dream.  I have a young bull on loan from my good friend Cliff White at Holiday Ranch, and believe he is going to be a fine bull.  
    I hope you enjoy the blog. 

It's cooling off and I am so glad, I just love fall don't you?  Calves are being born, the pecans have started falling, the winter forage is planted, the haying is done, and I am ready to slow down,..... just a little. 

It has been really busy around the farm lately.  I put the new squeeze chute in and will be running the herd through in a week or two.  Pulled my shoulder out in the process.  I have been in pain for weeks but have to press on.  
Jeanine didn't plant a winter garden, she is petitioning for a pull behind tiller.  I think she is going to wait until spring to plant.  Besides it's nut season. 
I am praying for a little rain to get my winter forage seed germinating, I put down 1050 lbs. of seed, but we havn't had any rain for a couple of weeks.    Cow #104 with the white face calved last week and the calf is so cute, looks just like his momma.  I moved the cows off the south pasture into the north hayfield while I planted in the south pasture and south hayfield.  Soil tests are in from UFL and I will be making my decisions on lime and nutrients. 
I need to spend some time in the shop organizing, I think more shelves are needed and I have to get some equipment maintenance done before it gets too cold.
Last weekend we had a bonfire, roasted hotdogs and ate oysters that Tyler, Ami's boyfriend brought.  Mimi and Papo were there and it was good family time. 
Below is a really cute video of a newborn calf trying to get up to nurse, and one of Christabel petting a new calf that was laying in the pasture.  Enjoy!

It has been quite some time since my last blog entry, and with good reason, I have been extremely busy!  There is no way to write about everything that's been going on so I will just hit the highlights.  Well Tropical Storm Issac hit today, not much of a punch, but getting everything done for his arrival has me exhausted.  I had to strap down the camper, bust up the beaver dam, and spread gravel over the creek road, just for starters.  It has rained almost everyday for a month, so I could not get the hay cut.  Finally we had 4 days of no rain in the forcast, but Issac would be here the following day.  I knew my window was tight to get the haying done.  I cut hay on Friday, while the hay dried I prepared the farm for a hurricane on Saturday, baled 125  1000# bales on Sunday, and put them in the barn on Monday.   We have enough hay for the winter, plus some,  and it is really nice hay.   I averaged 5000 lbs. an acre....WOW!  I spent 28 hours in the tractor throughout the process.  My advice....if you buy a tractor for your farm, get a really good one, it makes a difference.  I put an air ride seat in, and man am I glad I did.  I also added a side mirror for baling, no more stiff neck.  
Jeanine took charge of getting everything ready at the house for the storm.  She remembers losing everything we owned when Hurricane Ivan hit, so she was on a mission, and the kids pitched in.  I was so relieved that I did not have to deal with that after working at the farm for 12 hours everyday. 

Last weekend Ami's horse Shanti decided to go through the barbed wire fence and cut her leg quite deep.  It looked really bad, and Ami was pretty tore up over it, she really loves her horses.  We had to call the vet.   We took pictures and sent them to the vet.  I ran to the hardware to get some meds, and Ami treated the wound.  Two days later the vet came out and checked Shanti.  Ami has been treating her everyday now, and Shanti is on the mend.   I don't think it will bother her once it is completely healed.  Poor Ami had her first vet bill to deal with.  Gotta love those horses!

I had bought some paint so Jeanine, Mimi, and the kids could paint the wooden gates.  It turned out to be "pink", not the red I thought I bought.  After they painted one gate they came and got me, it looked pretty bad.  I told them to stop and I would get the right color.  So that is going to have to be re-painted.  That night we cooked a dozen grass fed rib-eyes and they made for a great supper with family.

Two weeks ago 1013 had a small bull calf.  The next day I took Jeanine down to the south pasture to see him and he was gone.   Not with his momma and nowhere in sight.  Jeanine and I spent the better part of a day searching for it, and had pretty much given up finding it.  We figured a preditor had gotten him or he got out of the fence and was lost.  We made one last search, and low and behold, Jeanine shouted out he was with his momma.  Thank God, we thought for sure he was gone.  Over the next week momma kept him hidden off and on, so we quit worrying when we did not see him.  We have named him "Houdini", due to his disappearing act.  He is so little, and cute.

Three weeks ago I fenced the northeast side of the south pasture by the creek.  Mimi and Papo came out and helped with the fence work and cleaning out the water trough.  Even "Tiger" the farm dog pitched in.

I added a couple new heifers to the herd this month and also 2 Jerseys.  The Jerseys are so sweet.   I can't wait until they calf.  Maybe Jeanine can try her hand at milking! 

I posted a few more pictures in the gallery, so if you get a chance, check them out.